Daily News

Mass layoffs rise 75.2%

December 19 2008

The number of mass layoffs totaled 2,328 in November, a 75.2% increase over the same month last year, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Initial unemployment claims associated with mass layoffs rose 60.4% year-over-year in November to 224,079.

A mass layoff action involves at least 50 workers from a single workplace.

Temporary help services was the industry with the highest number of initial claims for unemployment related to mass layoffs (not seasonally adjusted) at 14,430 claims, according to the bureau. The Midwest region posted the most initial claims (not seasonally adjusted) at 85,730 among the four U.S. Census regions.

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